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National Assembly Chamber, Thursday, 26th September 2024 — Members of the National Assembly engaged in a spirited debate on Thursday, discussing a motion aimed at reforming Kenya’s education bursary schemes to ensure that every child has access to free and compulsory basic education. The motion, sponsored by Hon. Esther Passaris, seeks to consolidate the various existing bursary programs into a unified system managed by the Ministry of Education to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility.
Hon. Passaris emphasized the constitutional right of every child to education, as outlined in Articles 43(1) and 53(1)(b) of the Constitution. She highlighted the ongoing challenges with the current bursary system, including lack of transparency, delays in fund disbursements, and insufficient coverage of educational costs.
“Education is a right, not a privilege,” remarked Hon. Passaris. “We must provide everything necessary—uniforms, books, teachers—so no child is left behind due to financial constraints.”
The proposed motion calls for the consolidation of all existing bursary schemes, including those under the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and county and ward-based programs. By centralizing these funds under the Ministry of Education, the goal is to ensure that funds are distributed directly to schools, guaranteeing that all children benefit equally.
The motion comes at a critical time, with MPs calling for broader education sector reforms. Hon. Raphael Wanjala supported the proposal, stressing the importance of education as an equalizer in society. He noted that the current system is prone to abuse, with multiple bursaries sometimes going to the same students.
“Consolidating these funds will reduce duplication and mismanagement, ensuring that all needy children benefit equally,” Hon. Wanjala argued.
Hon. Timothy Torotich echoed these sentiments, advocating for a system where students can only benefit from one bursary, thereby promoting equity.
However, the motion faced some opposition from MPs who raised concerns about the potential downsides of centralizing bursary schemes. Hon. Liza Chelule argued that decentralization has enabled local leaders to directly assist needy students in their constituencies, and centralizing the funds could undermine this personalized support.
“The Ministry does not know our needy students on the ground,” said Hon. Chelule. “The funds should remain decentralized so they can benefit as many students as possible.”
Hon. Kathambi and Hon. Mishi Mboko also voiced concerns about fairness and the importance of devolution in resource distribution, arguing that MPs and MCAs play a crucial role in ensuring that children in rural areas have access to education.
As the debate continues, the National Assembly is expected to further deliberate on the comprehensive reform of education bursary schemes to ensure that free basic education becomes a reality for all Kenyan children.
